Sports Network

BARCELONA, Spain -- Barcelona star Lionel Messi is expected to miss the club's next two games because of a sprained ankle, it was revealed on Monday.

Messi was taken off the field on a stretcher near the end of Barcelona's 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday after he was the victim of a late tackle from Atletico's Tomas Ujfalusi.

It was initially feared that the Argentina international had suffered a broken ankle or ligament damage, but after a number of tests, including an MRI, on Monday, it was determined that Messi will miss games against Sporting Gijon and Athletic Bilbao in the league, and that he could be available for Barca's next Champions League match against Russian side Rubin on September 29.

Messi has tallied two goals in Barcelona's first three games in league play so far this season.